Rape Culture. Those delicious words
tickling the tongue of the Tumblr generation who really have no idea what they
mean outside of the context of a movement that rediscovered it’s purpose in
demonization—as fart rape, and yes, that’s an accusation they’re making and
taking seriously. But perhaps the phrase “rape culture” isn’t entirely useless.
What is it to rape? It’s to force
oneself on another. It’s to place ones own needs for anger, rage, release, and
catharsis above the needs of another human and to fulfill those needs by force.
It’s to enslave a person for ones own use.
It is of note that when people talk
about slavery that there are certain words that recur quite often: chains,
capture, injustice, emancipation, freedom. There are also words much less used,
and less associated with the idea of slavery than the aforementioned terms—wages,
payment, money, compensation. Somehow it is understood quite clearly that the
primary (not sole) issue with slavery is not whether or not one is paid, but
whether or not one is free. Having
control over one’s own self-determination trumps the wages of being an
unwilling participant.
What then is the defense of a human
against rape and slavery? It is the right of a human being to say one word:
“no.” The Right to No is sacred. It dictates that every relationship (whether
economic or personal) is voluntarily taken up and maintained. Ideally it is
only forfeit when one violates another’s right to the same. “You must do this
for me—you have no option” is the language of a slaver, and a rapist. If you
want to see real rape culture, look around and see who forces whom, and who
lacks the right to say “no”. Start with Aaron and Melissa Klein.
